West Virginia, the two-time defending Big 12 regular-season champions, are the unanimous pick to win the league again in a vote of the conference head coaches. The Mountaineers return nine starters from last year’s squad that also won the Big 12 postseason crown and qualified for the NCAA Tournament for the 14th straight season.

Texas Tech brings back 20 letterwinners and seven starters and was chosen to place second. The Red Raiders have earned a NCAA bid each of the past two years and have combined for just two league losses over the previous two seasons. Oklahoma State was selected third and received the other first-place nod. OSU boasts 10 starters back from 2013 - a team that made the program’s eighth NCAA Tournament appearance.

Baylor and Texas were picked fourth and fifth, respectively. The Bears have earned NCAA bids in two of the last three campaigns and brings back 16 players from a year ago. The Longhorns posted their best Big 12 finish (third) since 2007 last season and will have 21 returning letterwinners this season.

Rounding out the poll was Kansas at No. 6, followed by TCU, Iowa State and Oklahoma.

The All-Big 12 preseason team will be announced on Thursday in anticipation of the start of the Big 12 soccer season. All nine schools will begin action on Friday, August 22.

2014 Big 12 Soccer Preseason Poll

Rank

School

Points

1.

West Virginia*

64

2.

Texas Tech

56

3.

Oklahoma State

49

4.

Baylor

40

5.

Texas

39

6.

Kansas

25

7.

TCU

21

8.

Iowa State

16

9.

Oklahoma

14

* - Unanimous SelectionNote: First place votes in parentheses; Coaches not allowed to vote for own team.